Chapter on Sharecropping and Leasing

اسْقِ هَذَا مِنَ الْمَاءِ وَ اعْمُرْهُ وَ لَكَ نِصْفُ مَا أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ مِنْهُ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يُعْطِي الرَّجُلَ الْأَرْضَ الْخَرِبَةَ فَيَقُولُ اعْمُرْهَا وَ هِيَ لَكَ ثَلَاثَ سِنِينَ أَوْ أَرْبَعَ أَوْ خَمْسَ سِنِينَ أَوْ مَا شَاءَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ قَالَ وَ سَأَلْتُهُ عَنِ الرَّجُلِ تَكُونُ لَهُ الْأَرْضُ مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ عَلَيْهَا خَرَاجٌ مَعْلُو

I asked Imam (as) about a man who gives his land, which has water, palm trees, and fruits, to another man and says, "Irrigate this with water, cultivate it, and you will have half of what Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, produces from it." Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it." I also asked him about a man who

لَهُ أَجْرُ بُيُوتِهَا[1] إِلَّا الَّذِي كَانَ فِي أَيْدِي دَهَاقِينِهَا إِلَّا أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدِ اشْتَرَطَ عَلَى أَصْحَابِ الْأَرْضِ مَا فِي أَيْدِي الدَّهَاقِينِ‌[2].

Hadith.3891 - Sama'ah asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who leases land with the consent of its owners, based on specific conditions agreed upon with them. Imam (as) said: "He is entitled to the rent of its houses, except for what is already in the possession of its cultivators (dahaaqeen), unless he stipulated with

إِذَا تَقَبَّلْتَ أَرْضاً بِطِيبَةِ نَفْسِ أَهْلِهَا عَلَى شَرْطٍ شَارَطْتَهُمْ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّ لَكَ كُلَّ فَضْلٍ فِي حَرْثِهَا إِذَا وَفَيْتَ لَهُمْ وَ إِنَّكَ إِنْ رَمَمْتَ فِيهَا مَرَمَّةً وَ أَحْدَثْتَ فِيهَا بِنَاءً فَإِنَّ لَكَ أَجْرَ بُيُوتِهَا إِلَّا مَا كَانَ فِي أَيْدِي دَهَاقِينِهَا.

لَهُ صَاحِبُ الْأَرْضِ الَّذِي آجَرَهُ أَنَا أَدْخُلُ مَعَكَ فِيهَا بِمَا اسْتَأْجَرْتَ فَنُنْفِقُ جَمِيعاً[3] فَمَا كَانَ فِيهَا مِنْ فَضْلٍ كَانَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ.

I asked Imam (as) about a man who rented land for one thousand dirhams, then subleased part of it for two hundred dirhams. Later, the owner of the land who had leased it to him said: "I will join you in it under the same terms you rented it, and we will spend on it together, and whatever profit it yields will be shared

أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ مِنْ رَجُلٍ أَرْضاً فَقَالَ آجِرْنِيهَا بِكَذَا وَ كَذَا إِنْ زَرَعْتُهَا أَوْ لَمْ أَزْرَعْهَا أُعْطِيكَ‌ ذَلِكَ فَلَمْ يَزْرَعِ الرَّجُلُ قَالَ لَهُ أَنْ يَأْخُذَهُ بِمَالِهِ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ لَمْ يَتْرُكْ‌[1].

I asked Abu Abdillah (as) about a man who rented land from another man and said: "Rent it to me for such-and-such amount, whether I cultivate it or not, I will pay you that amount." However, the man did not cultivate the land. Imam (as) said: "The owner has the right to claim the payment. If he wishes, he may waive it,

وَ مَا الْأَرْبِعَاءُ قَالَ الشِّرْبُ وَ النِّطَافُ فَضْلُ الْمَاءِ[3] وَ لَكِنْ تَتَقَبَّلُهَا بِالذَّهَبِ وَ الْفِضَّةِ وَ النِّصْفِ وَ الثُّلُثِ وَ الرُّبُعِ.

"Do not rent land in exchange for dates, wheat, barley, water shares (arbi'a'), or surplus water (nitaaf)." I asked: "What is arbi'a'?" Imam (as) said: "It means water shares, and nitaaf refers to surplus water. However, you may lease the land for gold, silver, half, a third, or a quarter."

عَلَيْهِ الْكِرَى وَ يُقَوِّمُ صَاحِبُ الدَّارِ ذَلِكَ الْغَرْسَ وَ الزَّرْعَ فَيُعْطِيهِ الْغَارِسَ إِنْ كَانَ اسْتَأْمَرَهُ فِي ذَلِكَ وَ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنِ اسْتَأْمَرَهُ فَعَلَيْهِ الْكِرَى وَ لَهُ الْغَرْسُ وَ الزَّرْعُ يَقْلَعُهُ وَ يَذْهَبُ بِهِ حَيْثُ شَاءَ.

Hadith.3896 - Muhammad bin Muslim narrated from Abu Ja'far Imam Al-Baqir (as) regarding a man who rented a house that included a garden. The tenant planted crops, palm trees, and other fruit-bearing trees without seeking the landlord's permission. Imam (as) said: "He is responsible for paying the rent. The landlord sho

لَهُ جُعِلْتُ‌ فِدَاكَ إِنَّ لَنَا ضِيَاعاً وَ لَهَا الدُّولَابُ وَ فِيهَا مَرَاعِي وَ لِلرَّجُلِ مِنَّا غَنَمٌ وَ إِبِلٌ وَ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى تِلْكَ الْمَرَاعِي لِغَنَمِهِ وَ إِبِلِهِ أَ يَحِلُّ لَهُ أَنْ يَحْمِيَ الْمَرَاعِيَ لِحَاجَتِهِ إِلَيْهَا قَالَ إِذَا كَانَتِ الْأَرْضُ أَرْضَهُ فَلَهُ أَنْ يَحْمِيَ وَ يُصَيِّرَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى مَا يَحْتَاجُ إِلَيْهِ وَ قُلْتُ لَهُ الرَّجُلُ يَبِيعُ الْمَرْعَى فَقَالَ إِذَا كَانَ

I said to him, "May I be your ransom, we have lands that contain waterwheels and pastures, and some of us have sheep and camels and need these pastures for them. Is it permissible for him to reserve the pastures for his own need?" Imam (as) said: "If the land is his, then he may reserve it and allocate it according to

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أُشَارِكُ الْعِلْجَ الْمُشْرِكَ‌[2] فَيَكُونُ مِنْ عِنْدِي الْأَرْضُ وَ الْبَقَرُ وَ الْبَذْرُ وَ يَكُونُ عَلَى الْعِلْجِ الْقِيَامُ وَ السَّعْيُ وَ الْعَمَلُ فِي الزَّرْعِ حَتَّى يَصِيرَ حِنْطَةً أَوْ شَعِيراً وَ تَكُونُ الْقِسْمَةُ فَيَأْخُذُ السُّلْطَانُ حَظَّهُ‌[3] وَ يَبْقَى مَا بَقِيَ عَلَى أَنَّ لِلْعِلْجِ مِنْهُ الثُّلُثَ وَ لِيَ الْبَاقِيَ فَقَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِذَلِكَ قُلْتُ فَإِنَّ ع

I said to Abu Abdillah (as): "I partner with a non-Muslim (al-ilj) in such a way that the land, cattle, and seeds are provided by me, and the non-Muslim is responsible for managing, working, and cultivating the crops until they become wheat or barley. Afterward, harvest is divided, the authorities take their share, and

يَتَقَبَّلُ مِنْ أَهْلِهَا بِشَيْ‌ءٍ مُسَمًّى‌[6] إِلَى سِنِينَ مُسَمَّاةٍ فَيَعْمُرُ وَ يُؤَدِّي الْخَرَاجَ فَإِنْ كَانَ فِيهَا عُلُوجٌ فَلَا يُدْخِلِ الْعُلُوجَ فِي الْقَبَالَةِ فَإِنَّ ذَلِكَ لَا يَحِلُ‌[1].

Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about a piece of land that a man wanted to lease. He was asked which form of leasing (qabalah) is permissible. Imam (as) said: "He may lease it from its owners for a specified amount and for a specified number of years. He should cultivate it and pay the required tax (kharaj). However, if th

لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ‌[2] إِنَّ الْأَرْضَ لَيْسَتْ مِثْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ لَا مِثْلَ الْبَيْتِ إِنَّ فَضْلَ الْأَجِيرِ وَ الْبَيْتِ حَرَامٌ‌[3].

Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about a man who leases land from the landowners (dahaaqeen) and then subleases it for more than what he leased it for, while also being responsible for paying the taxes required by the authorities. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that. Land is not like a hired worker or a rented house,

وَ لَوْ أَنَّ رَجُلًا اسْتَأْجَرَ دَاراً بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ فَسَكَنَ ثُلُثَيْهَا وَ آجَرَ ثُلُثَهَا بِعَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِمَ لَمْ يَكُنْ بِهِ بَأْسٌ وَ لَكِنْ لَا يُؤَاجِرْهَا بِأَكْثَرَ مِمَّا اسْتَأْجَرَهَا[4].

Hadith.3901 - If a man rents a house for ten dirhams, lives in two-thirds of it, and subleases one-third of it for ten dirhams, there is no harm in that. However, he must not sublease it for more than what he rented it for.

وَ سُئِلَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌[5] عَنْ رَجُلٍ اسْتَأْجَرَ أَرْضاً مِنْ أَرْضِ الْخَرَاجِ‌

Hadith.3902 - Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about a man who rented land from the kharaj lands for a specified amount of dirhams or a specified quantity of food. He then subleased it, piece by piece or plot by plot, for a known price, and gained a profit over what he rented it for from the authorities without spending any

قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع كَانَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِذَا بِيعَ الْحَائِطُ وَ فِيهِ النَّخْلُ وَ الشَّجَرُ سَنَةً وَاحِدَةً فَلَا يُبَاعَنَّ حَتَّى يَبْلُغَ ثَمَرَتُهُ وَ إِذَا بِيعَ سَنَتَيْنِ أَوْ ثَلَاثاً فَلَا بَأْسَ بِبَيْعِهِ بَعْدَ أَنْ يَكُونَ فِيهِ شَيْ‌ءٌ مِنَ الْخَضِرِ[4].

Hadith.3903 - It is narrated from Abu Al-Rabi' who said that Abu Abdillah (as) said: "Abu Ja'far Imam Muhammad ibn Ali Al-Baqir (as) used to say: If an orchard containing palm trees and other trees is sold for one year, it should not be sold until its fruits have ripened. However, if it is sold for two or three years,

لَا يُسَمِّي بَقَراً وَ لَا بَذْراً وَ لَكِنْ يَقُولُ لِصَاحِبِ الْأَرْضِ أُزَارِعُكَ فِي أَرْضِكَ وَ لَكَ كَذَا وَ كَذَا مِمَّا أَخْرَجَ اللَّهُ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ فِيهَا.

Hadith.3904 - It is narrated from Abu Al-Rabi', from Abu Abdillah (as), regarding a man who cultivates another man's land on the condition that one-third is allocated for the oxen, one-third for the seeds, and one-third for the landowner. Imam (as) said: "He should not specify shares for the oxen or the seeds. Instead,

قَالَ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ وَ قَالَ أَبُو عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فِي رَجُلٍ يَأْتِي أَهْلَ قَرْيَةٍ وَ قَدِ اعْتَدَى عَلَيْهِمُ السُّلْطَانُ فَضَعُفُوا عَنِ الْقِيَامِ بِخَرَاجِهَا وَ الْقَرْيَةُ فِي أَيْدِيهِمْ وَ لَا يُدْرَى لَهُمْ هِيَ أَمْ لِغَيْرِهِمْ فِيهَا شَيْ‌ءٌ فَيَدْفَعُونَهَا إِلَيْهِ عَلَى أَنْ يُؤَدِّيَ خَرَاجَهَا فَيَأْخُذُهَا مِنْهُمْ وَ يُؤَدِّي خَرَاجَهَا وَ يَفْضُلُ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ شَيْ‌ءٌ كَثِيرٌ فَقَالَ لَا

Hadith.3905 - Abu Al-Rabi' said that Abu Abdillah (as) was asked about a man who comes to the people of a village that has been overburdened by the authorities, making them unable to pay its taxes. The village remains in their possession, but it is unclear whether it fully belongs to them or if others have a share in i

لَا بَأْسَ قَدْ قَبَّلَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ص- أَهْلَ خَيْبَرَ[1] أَعْطَاهَا الْيَهُودَ حِينَ فُتِحَتْ عَلَيْهِ بِالْخَبْرِ وَ الْخَبْرُ هُوَ النِّصْفُ‌[2].

I asked Imam (as) about farming partnerships with the people of kharaj lands based on a quarter, a third, or half of the yield. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it. Indeed, the Messenger of Allah (swt) (peace and blessings be upon him and his family) made an agreement with the Jews of Khaybar when it was conquered,

لَهُ جُعِلْتُ فِدَاكَ أَسْمَعُ قَوْماً يَقُولُونَ إِنَّ الزِّرَاعَةَ مَكْرُوهَةٌ فَقَالَ ازْرَعُوا وَ اغْرِسُوا فَلَا وَ اللَّهِ مَا عَمِلَ النَّاسُ عَمَلًا أَحَلَّ وَ أَطْيَبَ مِنْهُ وَ اللَّهِ لَيَزْرَعُنَّ الزَّرْعَ وَ النَّخْلَ بَعْدَ خُرُوجِ الدَّجَّالِ‌[4].

Hadith.3907 - Muhammad bin Khalid narrated from Ibn Sayyabah, from Abu Abdillah (as): A man asked Imam (as): "May I be your ransom! I hear some people saying that farming is disliked." Imam (as) said: "Cultivate and plant! By Allah (swt), people have not engaged in any work more lawful and pure than this. By Allah (swt

لَا تَسْتَأْجِرِ الْأَرْضَ بِحِنْطَةٍ ثُمَّ تَزْرَعُهَا حِنْطَةً[1].

أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَزْرَعُ لَهُ الْحَرَّاثُ الزَّعْفَرَانَ وَ يَضْمَنُ لَهُ‌[3] عَلَى أَنْ يُعْطِيَهُ فِي جَرِيبِ أَرْضٍ يَمْسَحُ عَلَيْهِ كَذَا وَ كَذَا دِرْهَماً[4] فَرُبَّمَا نَقَصَ وَ غَرِمَ وَ رُبَّمَا زَادَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ بِهِ إِذَا تَرَاضَيَا.

I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about a man whose farmer plants saffron for him and guarantees to pay him a specified amount of dirhams for each measured jarib of land. Sometimes the yield is less, causing a loss, and sometimes it is more, yielding a profit. Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in it if they mutually agree."

أَبَا الْحَسَنِ ع عَنِ الرَّجُلِ يَتَكَارَى مِنَ الرَّجُلِ الْبَيْتَ أَوِ السَّفِينَةَ سَنَةً وَ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ ذَلِكَ أَوْ أَقَلَّ قَالَ الْكِرَى لَازِمٌ إِلَى الْوَقْتِ الَّذِي تَكَارَى إِلَيْهِ وَ الْخِيَارُ فِي أَخْذِ الْكِرَى إِلَى رَبِّهَا إِنْ شَاءَ أَخَذَ وَ إِنْ شَاءَ تَرَكَ‌[5].

I asked Abu Al-Hasan (as) about a man who rents a house or a boat from another man for a year, more, or less. Imam (as) said: "The lease is binding until the agreed-upon time. As for the payment of the rent, it is up to the owner, if he wishes, he may take it, and if he wishes, he may waive it."

سَأَلَ عَلِيٌّ الصَّائِغُ‌[6] أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع‌ فَقَالَ أَتَقَبَّلُ الْعَمَلَ فَأُقَبِّلُهُ‌ مِنَ الْغِلْمَانِ يَعْمَلُونَ مَعِي بِالثُّلُثَيْنِ فَقَالَ لَا يَصْلُحُ ذَلِكَ إِلَّا أَنْ تُعَالِجَ مَعَهُمْ قُلْتُ فَإِنِّي أُذِيبُهُ لَهُمْ‌[1] قَالَ ذَلِكَ عَمَلٌ فَلَا بَأْسَ.

Hadith.3911 - Ali the goldsmith asked Abu Abdillah (as): "I take on work and then hire young workers to assist me, giving them two-thirds of the earnings. Is this permissible?" Imam (as) said: "This is not permissible unless you work alongside them." I said: "What if I melt the gold for them?" Imam (as) said: "That is

لِأَبِي عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع أَتَقَبَّلُ الثِّيَابَ أَخِيطُهَا فَأُعْطِيهَا الْغِلْمَانَ بِالثُّلُثَيْنِ قَالَ أَ لَيْسَ تَعْمَلُ فِيهَا قُلْتُ أُقَطِّعُهَا وَ أَشْتَرِي لَهُمُ الْخُيُوطَ قَالَ لَا بَأْسَ.

I said to Abu Abdillah (as), "I take on garments to sew and then give them to young workers, keeping one-third and giving them two-thirds. Is this permissible?" Imam (as) said: "Don't you also work on them?" I said: "I cut the fabric and buy the threads for them." Imam (as) said: "There is no harm in that."

تُكَارِي هَذَا الْبَيْتَ قُلْتُ بَيْنَهُمَا بَابٌ وَ أَنَا شَابٌّ قَالَتْ أَنَا أُغْلِقُ الْبَابَ بَيْنِي وَ بَيْنَكَ فَحَوَّلْتُ مَتَاعِي فِيهِ وَ قُلْتُ لَهَا أَغْلِقِي الْبَابَ فَقَالَتْ تَدْخُلُ عَلَيَّ مِنْهُ الرَّوْحُ دَعْهُ فَقُلْتُ لَا أَنَا شَابٌّ وَ أَنْتِ شَابَّةٌ أَغْلِقِيهِ قَالَتِ اقْعُدْ أَنْتَ فِي بَيْتِكَ فَلَسْتُ آتِيكَ وَ لَا أَقْرَبُكَ وَ أَبَتْ أَنْ تُغْلِقَهُ فَأَتَيْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع فَ

I entered Medina looking for a house to rent. I came across a property with two rooms separated by a door, and a woman was living there. She said: "Would you like to rent this room?" I said: "But there is a door between the two rooms, and I am a young man." She said: "I will close the door between me and you." So, I mo

وَ كَتَبَ أَبُو هَمَّامٍ إِلَى أَبِي اَلْحَسَنِ عَلَيْهِ اَلسَّلاَمُ : فِي رَجُلٍ اِسْتَأْجَرَ ضَيْعَةً مِنْ رَجُلٍ فَبَاعَ اَلْمُؤَاجِرُ تِلْكَ اَلضَّيْعَةَ بِحَضْرَةِ اَلْمُسْتَأْجِرِ وَ لَمْ يُنْكِرِ اَلْمُسْتَأْجِرُ اَلْبَيْعَ وَ كَانَ حَاضِراً لَهُ شَاهِداً عَلَيْهِ فَمَاتَ اَلْمُشْتَرِي وَ لَهُ وَرَثَةٌ هَلْ يَرْجِعُ ذَلِكَ اَلشَّيْءُ فِي مِيرَاثِ اَلْمَيِّتِ أَوْ يَثْبُتُ فِي يَدِ اَلْمُسْتَأْجِرِ إِلَى أَنْ ت

Hadith.3914 - Abu Hammam wrote to Abu Al-Hasan (as) regarding a man who rented a property from another man. The landlord then sold the property in the presence of the tenant, who did not object to the sale and witnessed it. The buyer later died, leaving heirs. The question was whether the property would revert to the h

سَمِعْتُ أَبَا عَبْدِ اللَّهِ ع يَقُولُ‌ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَزَّ وَ جَلَّ اخْتَارَ لِأَنْبِيَائِهِ ع الْحَرْثَ وَ الزَّرْعَ لِئَلَّا يَكْرَهُوا شَيْئاً مِنْ قَطْرِ السَّمَاءِ[2].

I heard Abu Abdillah (as) say: "Indeed, Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious, chose farming and cultivation for His prophets (peace be upon them) so that they would not dislike anything from the rainfall."

الزَّارِعُونَ.

Hadith.3916 - Imam Ali ibn Abi Talib (as) was asked about the saying of Allah (swt), the Mighty and Glorious: "And upon Allah (swt) let the reliant rely" (Surah Ibrahim 14:12). Imam (as) said: "It refers to the farmers."